Get into the Swing: Tommy Steele transfers Glenn Miller touring hit to London Coliseum

26 Apr
2018
Posted in: Theatre News
Author: Press Releases
get-into-the-swing-tommy-steele-transfers-glenn-miller-touring-hit-to-london-coliseum
Tommy Steele stars in The Glenn Miller Show

Here's a transfer for the history books: Tommy Steele is not only bringing his latest stage hit, celebrating the music of big band leader Glenn Miller, he's bringing it to the address where he made his own theatre debut sixty years ago. Yep, THE GLENN MILLER SHOW will be keeping time at the London Coliseum this summer...

Sixty years after Tommy Steele made his theatre debut in 1958 starring in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the London Coliseum, he will return there to salute his idol Glenn Miller in a new musical celebration, running for seven weeks from 6 July to August 2018.

The Glenn Miller Show features the journey the legendary big band leader took to find his unique sound, and his subsequent fame and untimely death.

With the authentic sounds of ‘In the Mood’, ‘Moonlight Serenade’, ‘Little Brown Jug’, ‘Pennsylvania 6-5000’, ‘Tuxedo Junction’, ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’, and many more era-defining favourites, the show will be produced by Bill Kenwright with choreography by Olivier Award winner Bill Deamer and direction by Bob Tomson and Kenwright.

Steele said “I am and always will be one of Glenn Miller’s biggest fans. That sound, that wonderful sound, and his search for it, is one of the most inspiring stories I know. So, I’m returning to the Coliseum to say two thank yous!!”

Glenn Miller was the best-selling recording artist in the world from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best-known big bands. In those four years, he scored 23 No. 1 hits – more than Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

Tommy Steele landed his first UK No.1 with ‘Singing the Blues’ in January 1957, reaching the top spot before Elvis, the same year he filmed the movie The Tommy Steele Story.

His career has included more than 20 hit singles, 12 musical movies – including Finian’s Rainbow, The Happiest Millionaire, and of course Half a Sixpence – and several stage musicals such as Half a Sixpence, Hans Andersen and Singin’ in the Rain.

Steele starred in the musical Scrooge, which enjoyed two successful runs at the London Palladium, and made him the theatre’s all-time record-breaking performer, having headlined more performances than any other star in its history.